CONCORD, N.C. — The first nine rows of Saturday’s Chevrolet Performance Mid-East 602 Late Models Championship feature have been cemented through six heat races at the ninth annual World Short Track Championship.
Heat 1
Matching his run in the Pro Late Model Heat race, John Ruggerio Jr led every circuit of the opening 602 Late Model Heat race by a wide margin of over four seconds at the finish.
Within the top three, Morghan Johnson and Trent Ivey battled each other for second while Ruggerio made more distance from their position chasing. Johnson wound up second, and Ivey took the last transfer spot.
Heat 2
Dalton Peavy made the drive in Heat 2 look simple as he led all six laps for the victory.
Seth Wimpey used any possible lane to make a move around Peavy, but nothing stuck as he took the silver medal spot. Koulten Herbert claimed the third-place transfer spot.
Heat 3
Luke Cooper did not blink from any pressure in Heat 3 as he escaped the jostling of positions in the pack to take the win.
Brodie Thompson pushed his No.T9 Late Model to the limit as he went from starting seventh to second at the checkered flag. Kenny Peeples grabbed the important transfer spot by finishing third.
Heat 4
Beckham Malone began his World Short Track Championship defense with an important Heat 4 victory.
The 12-year-old driver from Rock Hill, S.C., lit the fuse from the drop of the green flag immediately to separate from the pack and extend his lead to over four seconds at the waving of the checkered.
Robbie Gibson drove to a second-place result, and Cherryville, NC driver Braden Jones rounded out the top three transfers.
Heat 5
David Smith cruised around The Dirt Track at Charlotte aboard his No.11S Late Model by leading from the green flag to the finish of the six-lap Heat race.
Behind Smith, Steven Thompkins had to get creative if he wanted a spot in Saturday’s Feature. On Lap 5, Thompkins went from fourth to second and clinch the elusive transfer position. Fox Factory CRUSA Pro Late Model Heat winner Trent Ivey finished in third.
Heat 6
Trey Stamper began the final Heat race from the outside of the front row. Abnormal to previous starts from the top side of The Dirt Track at Charlotte, Stamper made it work as he held on to grab the lead.
While Stamper led, Maverick Davidson, Wyatt Coffey, and Carl Currin raced against each other for the two transfer spots that remained.
Stamper took the win, with Davidson finishing second, and Coffey bested Currin for the last transfer spot of the heat.